Robbery suspect shot by police dies in custody

Police say Damien T. Rivera, the suspect who allegedly robbed a Kroger pharmacy and was shot by officers, died Tuesday in police custody, according to Williamson County Sheriff’s Department reports.

Investigators said the 30-year-old was alone in his cell when he was found unresponsive at 8:43 a.m. First aid was administered at the jail until Rivera was transported to the intensive care unit of Williamson Medical Center, where he died Tuesday morning, said Hugh Tharpe, a sheriff department's spokesman.

“It's not anything that we have any questions about,” Tharpe said. “He died from his own hands.”

Rivera was a suspect in at least two robberies in Franklin – at the same Hillsboro Road Kroger store on Aug. 2 and Oct. 20. Following the later incident, Rivera led police on a motorcycle chase that ended when he was shot by officers at the intersection of Hillsboro Road and Fulton Greer Lane.

He faced a round of charges including especially aggravated robbery, seven counts of aggravated assault, possession of controlled substances for resale, felony evading arrest, unlawful carrying or possession of a weapon and theft of property under $500.